Hearing this, Qian Renxue told him what had happened.
"You're lucky, too, to have gotten a Sky-Winged Thunder Wind Tiger cub. Once the little thing grows up, you'll have a powerful ally!"
"That'll still take time, though!"
After chatting for a bit, Yang Ziyuan began his usual corpse-looting routine.
He hadn't expected to find anything, but then he spotted a pair of wing-shaped External Soul Bones!
"08-10 17:34:11 Author: Kuangbiao de Xianyu"
"Soul Bones? And the rarest kind, External Soul Bones?!"
When she saw that Yang Ziyuan had obtained an External Soul Bone, Qian Renxue's eyes widened!
External Soul Bones were even rarer than Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings!
She hadn't expected Yang Ziyuan to be so lucky that he could even get his hands on one of these!
"How should we split it?"
At this, Qian Renxue shook her head.
"You take it. It'll make up for your weakness in aerial combat. Besides, I didn't contribute much to this fight, so I'd feel bad taking the Soul Bone."
"Uh, that's not quite true. Without your help, I wouldn't have found them in the first place!"
"That's nothing. Besides, I didn't come away empty-handed. At least I got this little thing!"
As she spoke, Qian Renxue rubbed the little Sky-Winged Thunder Wind Tiger in her arms.
Seeing this, Yang Ziyuan didn't refuse again.
He knew that the Wind Thunder Wings were practically useless to Qian Renxue!
They were no good to use, yet a shame to discard!
Flying? Her Angel Spirit already gave her that ability!
The only thing that interested her was the Soul Bone Skill contained in the Wind Thunder Wings.
However, just as she'd said, she hadn't contributed much to the fight. On top of that, she'd been trying, subtly, to grow closer to him. That was why she'd gone along with it and handed the Wind Thunder Wings over to him.
"Then I'll take the Wind Thunder Wings."
"Mm. Sit down and absorb them. I'll guard you!"
Yang Ziyuan nodded.
Then he sat cross-legged and began absorbing the Wind Thunder Wings.
Half an hour later, Yang Ziyuan slowly opened his eyes.
"How was it? Are you satisfied with the Soul Bone Skill?"
"It's all right. The Soul Bone Skill in these Wind Thunder Wings is called Wind Thunder Strangling! When triggered, it releases wind and thunder energy to form a small tornado that attacks the enemy. As for its power... it's about as strong as a Soul Emperor's full-force strike!"
After hearing Yang Ziyuan's explanation, the corner of Qian Renxue's mouth twitched.
"With power like that, and you still think it's just all right?"
But as soon as she said it, she realized that Yang Ziyuan couldn't be judged by ordinary standards.
After all, what kind of normal person could kill a fifty-thousand-year-old Soul Beast while still at the Soul Ancestor stage?
"What are you going to do now?"
"Me? I've already accomplished what I came for, so of course I'm heading back!"
She'd originally planned to stay with Yang Ziyuan and see if she could use the opportunity to bring him over to her side. Maybe even...
But now, it seemed she was already too late.
Seeing Qian Renxue's spirits sink, Yang Ziyuan was taken aback. Then he gently reassured her, "Don't be sad. We'll definitely see each other again. And when we do, don't pretend you don't know me!"
"Hmph, you rascal. I'd never do that!"
As she spoke, a faint blush appeared on Qian Renxue's cheeks.
Yang Ziyuan raised an eyebrow at the sight.
It looked like this girl really did have a bit of a thing for him!
But she didn't seem to realize it herself!
What he'd just said was meant to get Qian Renxue to help keep Bibi Dong at bay, out of consideration for the time they'd spent together these past few days.
After all, sooner or later, he'd have to face Tang San. He was bound to reveal his Soul Ring Configuration along the way.
If Bibi Dong learned about his situation, that madwoman would stop at nothing to capture him!
After all, who wouldn't want a better Soul Ring Configuration?
Even if they couldn't use it themselves, they could leave it to their descendants.
But he hadn't expected that Qian Renxue, who was nine years older than him, would fall for him!
Still, when he thought back to the original story, it made sense.
After all, Qian Renxue's standard for a partner was someone more outstanding than herself!
Now that she'd met someone whose strength and talent surpassed hers, it was only natural that she'd fallen for him.
What Yang Ziyuan didn't know was that Qian Renxue had fallen for him because Qian Daoliu had spent two years talking her into it.
In Qian Daoliu's heart, only Yang Ziyuan, another divine successor, was worthy of becoming his granddaughter's husband!
So, to bring the two of them together, Qian Daoliu had spared no effort.
At last, the seed he'd planted two years ago finally began to take root and sprout.
The two of them traveled in silence. Only after they left the Star Dou Great Forest did Yang Ziyuan say goodbye.
"Then I'll be going?"
"Mm. Take care!"
With that, Yang Ziyuan turned and left.
Watching him walk away, Qian Renxue felt a deep sense of reluctance and loss well up inside her.
"I wonder when I'll see you again. Maybe by then, you won't even remember my name."
After that sigh, Qian Renxue turned and said, "Uncle She, let's go!"
"Yes, Young Master!"
Then the two of them flew swiftly toward Heaven Dou City.
Half a month later, at the Yang Family residence in Vast Sea City.
"Phew, I'm finally back!"
Lying on his bed, Yang Ziyuan felt the tension that had gripped him for two months begin to ease.
During that time, he'd been traveling alone, so he'd had to stay on guard every moment and couldn't afford to let his guard down.
He'd had to watch out for dangers all around him, while also staying alert for Soul Masters with ulterior motives.
So even though Yang Ziyuan was in good spirits, his body was utterly exhausted.
After resting on the bed for a little while longer, Yang Ziyuan took out the black crystal ball.
After all, he'd been stuck at level 50 for more than half a month.
Now that nothing was distracting him, he could finally focus on absorbing a Soul Ring!
"A God-Bestowed Spirit Ring! With my body's strength now, I should be able to withstand a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring!"
As he thought this, Yang Ziyuan gave the black crystal ball a slight squeeze. It shattered instantly, releasing a stream of energy that entered his body.
The next moment, a transparent Soul Ring appeared around Yang Ziyuan.
Then a powerful force surged out of the Soul Ring and pressed down on him.
Yang Ziyuan knew this was the trial of the God-Bestowed Spirit Ring. Its purpose was to test how many years' worth of power he could withstand.
As the force steadily increased, the transparent Soul Ring around Yang Ziyuan began to change color.
Transparent → White → Yellow → Purple → Black
By the time it turned black with a red tinge, Yang Ziyuan's body had swollen by a full circle, and his skin had turned flushed red.
"This still isn't my limit!"
The intense pain coursed through his entire body, but he gritted his teeth and endured it.
Then the Black Hole Martial Soul slowly appeared behind him.
At last, with the Martial Soul's support, the black-and-red Soul Ring slowly turned red!
The moment Yang Ziyuan saw a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring appear around him, a smile spread across his face.
"My fifth Soul Ring is a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring! I finally did it!"
Before you continue